Girdle belt



Oct. 11, 1955 P. BLATT 2,719,973

'GIRDLE BELT Filed Feb. s, 1953 IN VEN TOR. PHI/4 n Emrr Anne/varsUnited States Patent GIRDLE BELT Paula Blatt, Cleveland, OhioApplication February 5, 1953, Serial No. 335,211

6 Claims. (Cl. 2-41) This invention relates to the general art of womenswearing apparel and is for an improved girdle belt that is particularlydesigned for expectant mothers.

One object of my present invention is to devise a girdle belt that isprovided with double means of support for the abdominal region of thebody of the wearer during the period of pregnancy so as to affordself-expansion of the garment in both horizontal and vertical directionsand thereby provide self-accommodation of the garment and its supportingmeans to the natural enlargement of this part of the wearers body duringsuch period.

Another object is to devise such a girdle belt with virtually universaladjustment or expansion in the abdominal region of the wearers body inaccordance with the natural development during the period of expectancyand to provide also a substantial means of support in the region of thesacroiliac joint, with a means of ready extension in the waist sizethereof.

Another object is to devise such a garment that can be made and sold ata popular price so as to enable practically every expectant mother toenjoy the benefits of this improvement.

Other objects will appear from the following description and claims whenconsidered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. l is a side elevation of my present improved device applied to thebody of the wearer;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same upon the body of the wearer.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my present improved device, taken fromthe rear thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the inverted plait that is provided inthe rear part of my present device.

It is to be understood that the present form of disclosure is merely forthe purpose of illustration and that there might be variousmodifications thereof without departing from the spirit of my inventionas herein set forth and claimed.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the fabric bodypart 1 is of suitable proportions to extend over the entire abdominalregion of the body of the wearer and is elastic in only the horizontaldirection. The upper edge of this body part 1 is adapted to extend aboutthe waist of the wearer to opposite points at the rear of the hips andapproximately midway between the hips and the middle of the back of thewearer. The other edge of the body part 1 may be of curved form from thetwo rear points and may extend down around and entirely beneath theabdominal region of the wearers body. Both edge portions of the bodypart 1 may be gathered with elastic tape so as to be readily yieldablefor expansion in these directions, as indicated at 2 and 3,respectively.

The rear ends of the body part 1 are connected by a longitudinally orlaterally elastic band 4 of substantial width and strength to afford afirm means of support for the garment in the region of the sacroiliacjoint of the wearer. The middle part of the elastic band 4, which may beof one piece, is provided with an inverted plait 5, the two sides orhalves of which are also stitched in the middle thereof, as indicated byreference numeral 6. The plait 5 is upon the inside of the band 4 so asto afford a smooth outer surface. By opening the stitching 5a of theplait 5, the waist size of the girdle belt may be increased accordinglyand the waist size may be increased still further by removing thestitching at the points 6, either one or both.

I have provided also the longitudinally elastic tape 7 that has its twoends sewed to the joint between the body part 1 and the rear band 4; andthe tape 7, which is of substantial width although not necessarily aswide as the band 4, is of sufiicient length to extend down below theabdomen of the wearer, as indicated in Fig. l of the present drawing.The tape 7 has its two ends attached in such manner that it naturallyextends downwardly and forwardly so as to be conveniently andeifectively positioned beneath the abdomen and to afford a firm, smooth,comfortable and dependable means of support therefor.

The garters 8 may be suspended from the lower edge of the body part 1 soas to support the stockings of the wearer.

The horizontal elasticity of the body part 1 will serve as a means ofaccommodation to any enlargement of the abdominal region in a horizontaldirection; and, by virtue of the engagement of the longitudinallyelastic tape 7 beneath the abdomen of the wearer, there will be providedmeans of effective support in an upward direction, partaking ofbothhorizontal and vertical directions, and will automaticallyaccommodate itself to any increased pressure due to natural enlargementin this region during the period of pregnancy. By virtue of the angularextent of the tape 7, its elasticity will provide such adaptation inboth of these directions; and the combined effect of the body part 1 andthe tape 7 is to permit suitable self-adjustment in virtually any andall directions insofar as eifective support of the enlarged region ofthe wearers body is concerned.

Also, the tape 7 will permit its position to be varied according to thenatural development of the abdominal region of the wearer without anychange in the position of the body part 1. By letting out the invertedplait 5 and the other stitched portions 6, there may be effected anadjustment of both the body part 1 and the auxiliary tape 7 since theyare both connected at. their rear ends to the band 4. Thus my presentimproved garment is able to provide a maximum feeling of comfort andsecurity at all times during the period of expectancy.

As may be observed from the present disclosure, this garment is of asimple form of structure as it involves only three parts, except for thegarters, and yet it is capable of rendering most elficient service inthe manner above indicated.

The body part 1 will be given suitable fullness and form to accommodatethe natural condition of the wearers abdominal region during the periodof expectancy; and, as a means of facilitating such shaping of this part1, it may be made of two separate portions that are sewed together downthe middle of the front, as indicated by the seam 1a.

It is thought that the practical advantages of this device, in additionto those above suggested, will suggest themselves to those who arefamiliar with the art to which this invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. A girdle belt comprising a body part of material adapted to coversubstantially the entire abdominal region of the body of the wearer andpossessing elasticity in only the horizontal direction, the upper edgeportion of said body part being adapted to extend. about the waist ofthe wearer to points above and at the rear of the hips ofthe wearer,'ahorizontally'elastic tape connected directly to the ends of said bodypart as a'continuation of the upper edge portion thereof and adapted toextend across the sacroiliac region of the body of the wearer, and anadditional longitudinally elastic'tape having its ends connected-totherear= ends of said body part s'o as to be otherwise freely disposed andextending angularly downwardly'and forwardly upon the inside of saidbody part and adapted to engage beneath the abdomen of the wearer and toaflford additional support therefor. g

2. The same structure as recited in claim lhereof and with the additionof an inverted plait in said elastic tape that is adapted to extendacross the sacroiliac regio'n'of the body of the wearer. '3."A'girdlebelt comprising a'single body part of material adapted to coversubstantially theentire abdominal region of the body of the wearerandhaving its lower edge inclined upwardly and 'rearwardly'to points aboveand' at'the rear of thehip regionof the wear, said body part possessingelasticity inonly the horizontal direction andbeinggathered along itsupper and lower edges with longitudinally elastic'tape meansincluded'therei'n so as'to provide elasticity along all edges of saidbody part,-and longitudinally elastic tape means attached to the rearends of said body part and having a substantially-horizontal portionadapted to extend across the sacroiliac region of the body of the wearerfor supporting engagement thereupon andhaving a freely disposed portionconnected at only its rear ends to said body part andextending angularlydownwardly and forwardly and adapted to engage beneath the abdomen ofthe wearer so as to afford additional means of support therefor.

4. The same structure as recited in claim 1 hereof and in which saidlongitudinally elastic tape is adapted to be enclosed entirely beneathsaid body part-of material.

5. A girdle belt comprising a body part of material adapted to coversubstantially the entire abdominal region of the body of the wearer andpossessing elasticity in only the horizontal direction, the upper edgeportion of said body part being adapted to extend to points above and atthe rear of the hips 'of the wearer, horizontally elastic tape meansextending between the ends of said body part and adapted to engage thesacroiliac region of the body of the'wearer, and longitudinally elastictape means connected at only its ends to the region of the ends of saidbodypart so as'to be otherwise freely-disposed and extending angularlydownwardly and forwardly and adapted to engage beneath the abdomen ofthe wearer and to afford additional support therefor.

6. The same structure as recited in claim 1 hereof and in which saidhorizontally elastic tape is provided with an inverted plait at themiddle and'uponthe inner side thereof so as to permit enlargement ofsaidbody part and said tape in'their effective engagement about the body ofthe wearer according to the requirements of the abdominalregion of thebody of the wearer during the period of expectancy.

References'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS698,426 Abbott Apr. 29, 1902 883,475 Ortell Mar. 31, 1908 1,185,672Huettner June 6, 1916 1,828,015 Allebach Oct. 20, 1931 2,457,071 ShulmanDec. 21, 1948

